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Dec. 15, 1931. QBRIEN 1,836,812

- AIR COOLER Filed July 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NNNNNNNN Glen OZBr/ze n,

Wilnesa:

- @Ma. 49M. *gMw ATTORNEY G. O BRIEN Dec. 15, 1931.

AIR COOLER Filed July 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1717167220? R H 33 BY Glen 0 Br/zen,

ATTORNEY- Wilnesa:

.Patented Dec. 15, 1931 PATENT OFFICE GLEN OZBRIEN', OF TROY, KANSAS AIR COOLER Application filed July 16,

My invention relates to an apparatus for (ooling air and includes a housing having lower and upper chambers and a plurality of vertically disposed cooling tubes com municating with said chambers. A cooling fluid such as water is pumped intothe lower chamber through an inlet pipe and flows in a uniform manner through all of the cooling tubes to the upper chamber, from which it In escapes through an outlet pipe. The inlet and outlet pipes may communicate with any suitable supply such, for instance, as a cistern, well, or the city water main in which the natural temperature of the water does not exceed 65 or 7 0 degrees F., or said pipes may be insulated and connected to a remotely located refrigerator in which the water will be artificially cooled.

Suitable means such as a fan is employed 2 for forcing or drawing air through the spaces surrounding the vertical cooling tubes and circulating said air throughout the room in which the cooling apparatus is located.

The air is chilled as it strikes thecooling tubes and also gives up a portion of its moisture content held in suspension until condensed on impinging against said tubes, down which the condensation flows and collects in a drip pan in which the housing is located.

The cooling apparatus is preferably portable and may be made in different sizes for use in homes, public institutions, railway cars, or wherever else it is desired to lower the temperature, and in order that the invention may be fully understood reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an irregular vertical section on line 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. I

Referring in detail to the different parts, 2 designates a rectangular housing having a large opening 4 extending transversely therethrough. The housing 2 is provided with lower and upper chambers 6 and 8, respectively, between which communication is 1930. Serial No. 468,222.

established through cooling tubes 10 extending vertically through the opening 4. The tubes 10 extend through a lurality of superimposed cooling fins 12 w ich extend horizontally across the opening 4. In some instances tubes like those used in the wellknown honeycomb type of radiators may be substituted for the straight tubes '10.

Cooling water from a suitable source is pumped or otherwise forced into the lower 00 chamber 6 through an inlet pipe 13, and after flowing upwardly through the tubes 10 to the chamber 8 escapes through a horizontally disposed outlet pipe 14 which may lead to a sewer or return the water to the cooling as source where its temperature is again reduced preparatory to making another circuit through the cooling apparatus. The outlet pipe 14 has a superimposed funnel-shaped mouth 16 disposed above the upper ends of the tubes 10 and arranged in the upper chamber 8 which is made larger than the chamber 6 to receive said funnel-shaped mouth 16.

A current of air is forced or drawn through the opening 4 by suitable means such as a fan 18 which is located within said opening and driven by an electric or other suitable motor 20. A drip pan 22 provided with a discharge pipe 24 is placed beneath the housing 2 to catch the condensation created by the warm air impinging against said housing the cooling tubes 10 and the fins 12. If desired a hose may be connected to the discharge pipe 24 for conducting the water from the drip pan 22 to a sewer or else- 35 where.

With the parts arranged as shown and described it is apparent that as the cool water is forced into the lower chamber 6 through the inlet pipe 13, it will flow upwardly in a uniform manner through the tubes 10 and enter the chamber 8 from which it escapes through the outlet pipes 14 whereby it may be led to a sewer or returned to the source of supply. As the water flows through the tubes 10 it cools the latter and the fins 12 and thereby reduces the temperature of the air circulated through the opening 4 by the fan 18.

Preferably the water is introduced into the water enables the walls of the chambers 6 and 8 and the tubes 10 to be made of sheet metal upon which the cooling efi'ect of the water and the blast from the fan 18 may act more efiiciently than upon thick cast iron pipe.

By arranging the funnel-shaped mouth 16 abovethe tubes 10 and the outlet pipe 14, a head of water is provided in the upper chamber 8 which insures an equal flow of water through all of said tubes 10.

The upper chamber 8 is provided with an air vent 26 so that the water entering through the tubes 10' will not be subjected to the back pressure which would exist and retard the free flow of the water if the air were trapped in said chamber 8.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that I have provided an apparatus which may be operated economically, as the same water may beused repeatedly. It will also be understood that by arranging the cooling tubes 10 and the fins 12 in the manner shown and described that the maximum cooling surface may be had in the minimum space.

While I have shown one form of the invention I reserve all rights to such other forms and modifications as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a housing having lower and upper chambers spaced apart to leave a transverse opening through said housing, an inlet to the lower chamber, an outlet pipe leading from the upper chamber, a funnel-shaped mouth arranged in the upper chamber communicating with-and extending above the level of said outlet pipe, and tubes located in the opening and establishing communication between the chambers.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a housing having a lower chamber, an upper chamber which is deeper than said lower chamber and spaced above the latter to leave a transverse opening through said housing, an inlet to the lower chamber, an outlet pipe to the upper chamber, a funnel-shaped mouth arranged in the upper chamber communicating with and extending above the level of said outlet pipe, tubes located in the opening and establishing communication be-' tween the chambers, and means for circulating air through said opening.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a substantially rectangular housin having lower and upper chambers space apart to leave an opening through said housing, vertically disposed tubes located in said opening establishing communication between the chambers, air circulating means located in said opening, and a drip pan in which the bottom of the housing sets, and an outlet pipe to said drip pan.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GLEN OBRIEN. 

